DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl or any of the characters included in the package. I do like to play with them and often end up giving them back worse for the wear. (Especially Captain Jack Sparrow!) ;

CLAIMER: I do, however, own the plot of this story and all my OC therein. Some stay around, some don't. That's life, ne?

Part 19: Heading Home

Jack dropped, gripping his right leg just below the knee where the knife was imbedded as he slipped to the floor.

All eyes turned to the room's safest entrance and found Dozell leaning heavily on the wall with a satisfied smirk. "And so it ends."

"Indeed…brother…" Jack breathed weakly, forcing himself to his feet and around to face his brother from years past. "And so it ends." Gathering all his internal strength, Jack concentrated it into one final attack which hit Dozell with destructive force. Once the energy that had pinned Dozell to the wall subsided the younger dropped to the ground, dead.

"It's over." As soon as Jack finished his statement he sank to the floor once more and laid still, his breathing shallow.

"Jack!" Ana cried in alarm, flying to his side.

- - - - -

Jack's eyes opened slowly and he found himself on a pure black plain. Nothing seemed to stir, but then again it was hard to tell seeing as how his vision was rather clouded.

"Mortal,"

Jack started at the voice and clumsily stood, swaying violently once on his feet.

"You have done well. She was right to have believed in you."

"Glad t' know tha'," Jack muttered weakly, wishing desperately for something to lean on. Or a drink. Preferably both.

"However, your foolish actions did endanger the land and Guardians beyond reason…"

Jack was finding it harder and harder to concentrate on Anaia's voice as his eyes kept slipping shut.

"…but in light of your strength that saved this land, I will grant you your life."

Jack forced his eyes open at this though they remained heavily lidded. "Uh, thanks…I guess."

"But I cannot help you cope with the numerous injuries your body has sustained. You will have to deal with that on your own. Good luck, Captain Jack Sparrow."

- - - - -

"Jack! Jack! Wake up! Please Jack!" Ana pleaded, gently shaking his shoulder and tapping his cheek in futile attempts to wake the pirate captain. Receiving no reaction from Jack, she looked helplessly up at Will and Chelsea.

Will knelt beside Jack and carefully pried the knife from the pirate's leg. The blade came out from a sharp jerk by Will and the large, jagged slice it left started gushing with blood. Will tore his shirtsleeve and wrapped it tightly around Jack's leg in an attempt to slow the blood flow. "We should get him back to the Pearl as soon as possible. Ana, Chelsea, will you go get the horses ready?"

Chelsea nodded silently and rose before disappearing through the chink.

"Yer're gonna need help gettin' him through there," Ana said quietly, inclining her head to indicate the chink.

"Right, let's get to it," Will agreed just as quietly.

The two set about carefully carrying Jack over to the part of the wall that housed the opening and gently set him back down. Ana went first, dragging Jack in after her by his shoulders. Will followed, trying to keep Jack's wounded leg from being further agitated.

Once they were on the other side Will forced Ana to go help with the horses while he carried Jack out. Naturally, Ana argued her right to stay but in the end Will's argument of speed persuaded her. With one last, long look at Jack she jogged down the corridor to help Chelsea.

Will lugged the pirate captain off the ground and laid Jack over his shoulder as gently as possible. From the close contact Will was troubled to discover that Jack was already subject to a raging fever. This fact only served to hasten his exit from the pyramid.

When Will exited the pyramid, still carrying Jack, he was pleased to see that Ana and Chelsea had worked quickly and that the horses were ready. He carried the fevered pirate captain over to the cart and gently laid him in it. Ana stood by the cart's side and as Will turned away to get his own horse she carefully stroked Jack's cheek just to the side of the cut that ran the length of his face.

"Ana,"

Ana looked up quickly at the soft sound of Chelsea's voice.

"We should get going. The sooner we get back the sooner he can get help."

Kona lightly jumped into the cart beside Jack and laid down just above the pirate captain's head. For once the dog wasn't jumping about ecstatically. Instead he was very calm as if in mourning for his fallen friend. As the large dog laid his head on his paws Ana carefully propped Jack's head up against Kona's side. She too took note of Jack's fever with much concern.

"Do we have any extra water?"

"No. We have just enough for the journey back; that's all," Will answered quietly. "I know he has a fever, but there's nothing we can do about it until we get back."

Taking another look down at Jack's prone form lying limp in the cart Ana took in a deep, shuddering breath. Jack wasn't dead yet and she refused to cry until he was. And if she could help it, that would never happen. Letting her hand fall from his face, she strode purposefully toward the black horse and mounted up. She trotted him to the lead and waited only a moment before setting off the way they had come.

- - - - -

The small caravan had come to a halt as night embraced the land. Will and Chelsea set about watering the horses while Ana tried to get Jack to drink.

"Come on ye bloody daft man," Ana muttered under her breath as she once again tried to press the canteen to Jack's parched lips. She cradled him tightly in her arms and each time the metal ring of the canteen touched his mouth he shifted away from the contact. "Jack, come on,"

"Ana," Will said quietly, coming back to the cart with an empty canteen in hand.

Ana had heard him but she didn't look up; she was too intent on trying to get Jack to drink.

"We're ready to head off again," Will continued a bit louder this time.

Ana gently laid Jack back to rest in the cart again and looked Will straight in the eyes. "He won't drink anything."

Will nodded glumly. He had had a feeling that Jack wouldn't drink anything but he didn't know what to say so he decided on silence.

As the two sullenly returned to their horses and mounted up a high-pitched shriek from the sky above drew their attention.

[a/n: This was another bonus chapter and there's only one more installment left after this which will be posted on Friday. Please toss me some review bones. -whimpers pathetically-]